Mark Mesarch's World

Listing of Acting Experiences and Technical Work

Live theatre has such appeal. Its never the same twice. This can be said for the actor, the technician, and most importantly the audience. And the connection that the audience and the actor make is electric.

I can remember the end of Act 1 of a production of "Ragtime" that I did at Lincoln Community Playhouse. In the song "Till We Reach That Day" each group is looking forward to day when they reach what they are striving for. The power of the song, the cast and music jump from the stage to audience. The moment the song ended and we went to black, there was a split second where we held our poses, the audience held their breathe and the room was charged. I lived for that moment each night.

Back in high school I had not really been in many plays, but enjoyed going to see them. Then I took Drama as one of my final english electives. I auditioned and got the lead in "The Night is My Enemy" It was tough work learning the lines (diction especially) and getting the blocking right and the emotions to flow. And like I said nothing is ever the same twice, like the night I tripped and stepped on my co-star's head and she blacked out. The next night the break away vase she hits me with, broke early and the fragment that she still hit me with, cut my face and drew blood.

I took a break from theatre in college and grad school, but came back with a vengeance when I moved to Texas. My high school drama class and teacher had also instilled me with the love of the technical aspect of theatre. I started doing lighting design at this point. I finally took a college class in it and found how little I new and how much I could progress. In 2007, I hit the Ediburgh Fringe Fesitval, a theatre extravaganza of more than 900 events over 20 days. Strange, odd, exciting, creative and provocative. Theatre, Comedy, Performance Art, Dance. Opera, Music. One of the best theatre experiences I have ever had.

In the late 90's our church was looking for a new direction to present the message. I helped bring drama on board. Acting as director I again learned there was so much I did not know. But trying to create something from so many parts has been thrilling. And standing in the back of the audience listening to them react to what you have put together.....well, I live for that moment too.

Listing of Acting Experiences and Technical Work